"World Cinema: Israel"

My book, "World Cinema: Israel" (originally published in 1996) is available from Amazon on "Kindle", with an in-depth chapter comparing and analyzing internationally acclaimed Israeli films up to 2010.

Want to see some of the best films of recent years? Just scroll down to "best films" to find listings of my recommendations.

amykronish@gmail.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Jewish Settlers in Hebron

Soldier on the Roof, directed by Esther
Hertog, is a fascinating documentary look at the 800 Jews who live in the midst
of the Palestinian city of Hebron (Arab population estimated at 250,000), and
at the Israeli soldiers who are posted there to protect the settlers and to police
the Israeli-controlled area (about 20% of the city).The filmmaker goes to live in a caravan
within this settlement and documents the lives of the settlers and the soldiers.Without being judgmental, she lets the
settlers, their families and the soldiers tell their stories.The Palestinians of Hebron have no voice in
this film.

We hear Jewish children express hatred of Arabs.We see soldiers frisking Arabs on the streets.We learn about the ideology of the
settlers.We feel the tension, see the
provocations but there are no neighborly relations between Jew and Arab
here.We see Arab homes that have been
evacuated in order to separate between the local population and the
settlers.The settlers talk about how
living in Hebron creates an unbroken link to our ancient forefathers and the
film takes us inside the Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpelah) where Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob are buried, and we try to feel that link.But we do not see any effort of the settlers
to reach out to the local Palestinian Arab population.

The film is a collection of vignettes and encounters, permitting
the settlers to talk about their ideology and relate their opinions openly and
honestly.Some of it is quite shocking
and even disconcerting -- One man explains that he only wants to banish those
Arabs who want to banish or kill him.He
doesn't want to kill them, only deport them.But, he says, he's willing to live side by side with those who don't
want to kill him, who are willing to live and let live. He doesn't realize perhaps that his very
presence in the midst of Hebron raises the level of tension to such a degree
that so many Arabs feel hatred towards him.As
if that is not enough, he goes on to explain that there are Jews who are much
more extreme, who are not willing to have any Arabs living in a Jewish land!

Of course, this immediately brings to mind the story of
Baruch Goldstein, who slaughtered 29 Palestinians at prayer within the Cave of
the Patriarchs in 1994.This massacre, which
took place on Purim day, by a religious Jew, helps to form my opinion about the
small enclave of settlers who live in the midst of Hebron.They are a provocation to the local
Palestinian population, creating tension and humiliations and they have no
desire to live in peace with their neighbors.

The film's publicity material describes the filmmaker,
Esther Hertog, as a visual anthropologist.In my opinion, she deserves a lot of credit for documenting a phenomenon in Israeli life which endangers any possibility
of moving forward with a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Soldier on the Roof is a documentary film
(2012) and is available in two versions -- 50 minutes or 80 minutes -- from Ruth Diskin.

Amy Kronish

writes and lectures widely on subjects dealing with contemporary Israeli society as seen through film and is the author of two books on the subject: World Cinema: Israel (Flicks Books, Trowbridge, England and Associated University Press, Fairleigh Dickinson, NJ, 1996, updated in 2010 for digital reader) and Israeli Film: A Reference Guide (co-author, Greenwood Publishing, Westport, CN, 2003). Both books are available from Amazon for use on a digital reader.

Check out the letters of appreciation that I have received from my speaking tours!

On behalf of our Sherith Israel Congregation I would express my sincere thanks for the superb program on Israeli film that you presented last Saturday evening. Your passionate love for film and, of course, for Israel came through in the dramatic clips that you showed and in the very lively discussion that you inspired. You have a very special gift for bringing your listeners into the challenging questions and themes raised by the films. Truly, your program was incredibly well-received. I would not hesitate to recommend you to synagogues, schools, and Jewish Centers throughout the country.

From Cantor Eric SchulmillerThe Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North ShorePlandome, NY

In reference to Amy's availability as a master teacher of Israeli cinema, I wanted to share my personal testimony. Our congregation brought Amy in to lead two separate programs on a wonderful shabbat this past winter.

First, she conducted an amazing session with our teen group - presenting film clips and facilitating discussions that werechallenging, engaging, and never patronizing to our group of kids. She spoke to them like the sophisticated consumers of media that they are, and they came away very satisfied and enlightened from the experience.

That same evening, Amy led a program and discussion for the adults in our congregation, and the feedback I received was equally positive. We all found Amy to be extremely knowledgeable, organized, and (too rare among presentersthese days) very easy to work with! I highly recommend her services to any congregation that is looking for a way to enrich their community's relationship with Israel through an exploration of a wide variety of issues brought forth by a sensitive, careful examination of its cinematic tradition.

From Joan FriedmanAssistant Professor of History and Religious StudiesCollege of Wooster, Ohio

We were fortunate to have Amy Kronish speak on campus two years ago about Israeli film; the students really enjoyed the evening. Don't pass up this opportunity!

Film Lectures by Amy Kronish on Issues of Israeli Society

-- Adolescents of Israel: Are They Really Different?

-- Changing Attitudes Towards War and Peace

-- Gender Issues in Israeli Cinema

-- Issues of Memory – The Holocaust and Israeli Society

-- Lens on Israel: Contemporary Issues in Israeli Society

-- Understanding the Other – Palestinian and Jewish Perspectives

Amy Kronish

Check out my latest articles --

on Israeli films about life in Tel Aviv -- on the Eretz Acheret magazine English website -- Urban Fantasies